. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/CAN/570 
14 November 2011  
 (11-5849) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English/ 
 French 
 
 
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Notifying Member:  CANADA 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  Health Canada 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Unstandardized processed cheese products  (ICS Codes:  67.100, 67.220) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:    
5. Title of the notified document:  Interim Marketing Authorization regarding the use of the 
preservatives sorbic acid, potassium sorbate and calcium sorbate in unstandardized 
processed cheese products  Language(s):  English and French  Number of pages:  2 
6. Description of content:  Health Canada has received a submission to increase the 
maximum level of use of the preservatives sorbic acid, potassium sorbate and calcium 
sorbate in unstandardized processed cheese produc ts to 3 000 ppm, if used singly or in 
combination, calculated as sorbic acid.  Evalua tion of available data supports the safety and 
effectiveness of sorbic acid, potassium sorb ate and calcium sorbate in the production of 
these food products.  
Therefore, it is the intention of Health Ca nada to recommend that the Regulations be 
amended to increase the maximum level of use of the preservatives sorbic acid, potassium 
sorbate and calcium sorbate in unstandardi zed processed cheese products to 3 000 ppm, if 
used singly or in combinati on, calculated as sorbic acid. 
As a means to improve the responsiveness of th e regulatory system, an Interim Marketing 
Authorization (IMA) is being issued to perm it the immediate use of sorbic acid, potassium 
sorbate, and calcium sorbate, as indicated a bove, while the regulatory process is undertaken 
to amend the Regulations. 
The proposed regulatory amendments would be enabling measures to allow the sale of 
additional foods containing sorbic acid, potassium sorbate and calcium sorbate as preservatives.  The amendments are supported by the safety assessment and would have 
low impact on the economy and on the envi ronment. Consequently, the regulatory 
amendments may proceed directly to  final approval and publication in Canada Gazette , 
Part II. G/SPS/N/CAN/570 
Page 2  
 
  7. Objective and rationale:  [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other 
damage from pests.    
8. Is there a relevant international stan dard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text)   
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[X] None Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
 [ ] Yes   [ ] No 
 If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:    
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:  Canada 
Gazette , Part I, 5 November 2011, Pages 3392- 3393 (available in English and French) 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  Immediate for this IMA.  For the final regulation, 
normally within 12-18 months of publication of the Notice of Interim Marketing 
Authorization in the Canada Gazette , Part I, 5 November 2011. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :    
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  Immediate for this IMA. For the final regulation, normally within 12-18 
months of publication of the Notice of Interim Marketing Authorization in the Canada 
Gazette , Part I, 5 November 2011. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  19 January 2012 
Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:    
13. Texts available from:  [ ] National Notification  Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
The electronic version of the regulatory text can be downloaded at:   
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/201 1/2011-11-05/pdf/g1- 14545.pdf#page=12  (Canada 
Gazette ) 
or http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2011/ 2011-11-05/html/notice-avis-eng.html#d103  
(English) 
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2011/ 2011-11-05/html/notice-avis-fra.html#d103  
(French)